Hide and Seek for Love by Barbara Cartland Page B

are far too thin and I have often been told that thin women are querulous and disagreeable!”
    He was teasing, but Benina answered indignantly,
    â€œI am none of those things.”
    â€œI know,” smiled David, “but it is something I don’t want you to become.”
    â€œThen let’s start looking right away!”
    â€œI think we would feel better if we had luncheon first and I am certain that Nanny would be most annoyed if we let it get cold.”
    â€œYou are quite right, my Lord, shall I go to the kitchen and tell her what you have told me?”
    â€œYes, of course, Benina, we are all in this adventure and if we fail, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.”
    â€œWe are not going to fail,” insisted Benina.
    â€œWell, before we start our search, I intend to find a key to the cellar or break down the door!”
    â€œOh, I forgot to tell you, my Lord.  How stupid of me!  I was so excited to see you back that I forgot.”
    â€œWhat did you forget?”
    â€œI found the key!  It was hidden in a drawer in what is now your bedroom.  Your grandfather put it right at the back behind a Bible and some old letters.  I am sure that no one would have thought to look in there.”
    â€œWell done, Benina!  If you have the key, let’s go and explore the cellar.  Perhaps we might find some wine down there.”
    He thought as he spoke that considering how mean his grandfather had been, it was most unlikely that there would be any at all.
    However, to his joy there were a number of bottles of claret, brandy and wine that had been home-brewed.
    The cellar was cavernous and with the lantern that Benina carried, it was easy to see that it was practically empty.
    There was nothing likely to be hidden in the bare walls or below the stony ground.
    â€˜After all,’ David thought, ‘we are not looking for a few coins, but for a large amount of golden guineas.’
    They could not be just shoved away in a corner.
    When they emerged from the cellar, they found that Nanny was dishing up their luncheon.
    â€œYou’re going to enjoy all this, my Lord,” she said, “and so’ll Miss Benina.  I’m feeling more like myself than I’ve felt for many a month.”
    â€œI have obtained some more money for you, Nanny, as soon as you need it, but there is one thing I want to do before we start chasing round the house and that is to get in touch with Newman.”
    â€œOh, he’s in the workhouse, my Lord.”
    â€œYes, I know, Nanny, but is he in fairly good health and capable of coming back to help us?”
    Nanny looked at David in surprise.
    â€œThat the best thing you’ve ever said, my Lord.  If there’s one person who knows every inch of the house, it’s Mr. Newman and I knows that nothing’d please him more than being back here in what he has always considered his own home.”
    â€œAs we are rather busy, Nanny, can you please get the gardener’s son to go and tell him I am here and ask him when it will be convenient to pick him up.”
    â€œHe will be thrilled!” exclaimed Benina.
    â€œThere must be someone in the village, who would be willing to drive him here if I pay him.”
    â€œI’ll arrange it, my Lord,” Nanny offered, “and I do knows that Mr. Newman’ll be here as quick as he can, if he has to fly to do so!”
    She picked up the roast lamb she had on a tray and carried it ahead of them into the study.
    David found that Benina had laid the table they had used last night and when Nanny put down the lamb, all he had to do was to carve.
    There were vegetables to go with it which he knew must have come from the garden, and David suspected that the gardener or his son were only too willing to help if they could be paid a few pennies for doing so.
    David thought he must see the gardener and arrange for him to go to work on the garden again.
    Yet he